Had a Navy Capt running our program say over and over again: "Better is the enemy of good." Same idea as lane's above. Slogans aside, we need to have this car running, and Alan and Greg on the same page making it happen. "C'mon, man"
What's the score on this game??
Is Greg going to do anything with the speedster or just let it sit?
I hear crickets
Is Greg going to do anything with the speedster or just let it sit?
I hear crickets
Looks like this heavy decision needs the same amount of cogitation that the rest of this build has had.
I'm convinced it will never happen, down the road in life the poor car will be sold at an estate auction to the highest bidder. The open road it will never see for many more years or never at all
It is sad to watch
It is sad to watch
IMHO, at this juncture we need to let Greg decide what are the priorities in life may be. My offer is an open end offer as long as I have the time on the calendar to do the work. As it stands now I have another possible project to finish for Gary, if all goes as scheduled, I may be busy through the January 1st. I have a red Flared CMC that needs some cosmetics in que, I also just bought a high end rolling shortened chassis with an Airkewled front end w/ coil overs and wide 5 discs, aluminum hyd. pedal assembly, it's on a truck heading here tomorrow from Texas. ... I have no idea what I'll do with that project .
I agree. Sometimes there is NO amount of pushing that will get thing to move
If he has kept it this long unfinished, there's really no reason to finish it. People like things for different reasons. Some to drive and enjoy, others to store and look at
Lets us know Greg if you decide to get the car finished. I'm sure you will have more help than you can believe
In the end it is his car and his choices
If he has kept it this long unfinished, there's really no reason to finish it. People like things for different reasons. Some to drive and enjoy, others to store and look at
Lets us know Greg if you decide to get the car finished. I'm sure you will have more help than you can believe
In the end it is his car and his choices
Originally Posted by Alan Merklin - Drclock. Chambersburg PA:
IMHO, at this juncture we need to let Greg decide what are the priorities in life may be. My offer is an open end offer as long as I have the time on the calendar to do the work. As it stands now I have another possible project to finish for Gary, if all goes as scheduled, I may be busy through the January 1st. I have a red Flared CMC that needs some cosmetics in que, I also just bought a high end rolling shortened chassis with an Airkewled front end w/ coil overs and wide 5 discs, aluminum hyd. pedal assembly, it's on a truck heading here tomorrow from Texas. ... I have no idea what I'll do with that project .
Just send me that chassis. 
T
Truck's heading the wrong way.( northeast !)
Originally Posted by TRP:
Originally Posted by Alan Merklin - Drclock. Chambersburg PA:
IMHO, at this juncture we need to let Greg decide what are the priorities in life may be. My offer is an open end offer as long as I have the time on the calendar to do the work. As it stands now I have another possible project to finish for Gary, if all goes as scheduled, I may be busy through the January 1st. I have a red Flared CMC that needs some cosmetics in que, I also just bought a high end rolling shortened chassis with an Airkewled front end w/ coil overs and wide 5 discs, aluminum hyd. pedal assembly, it's on a truck heading here tomorrow from Texas. ... I have no idea what I'll do with that project .
Just send me that chassis.
T
Originally Posted by Alan Merklin - Drclock. Chambersburg PA:
Truck's heading the wrong way.( northeast !)
It's been discovered that Alan's new chassis has self-identified as a West Coast chassis. Thus the driver of the delivery truck is now on his way to Ted's place.
If that IS the case, the driver just called to say he will be here at 9:00 tomorrow ......what a BS'er he is !
I probably will finish the chassis so it is ready to use and sell it.
Update: My November - January slot has been officially taken by Gary from NY (gwan2cruz)
He has a partially assembled flared CMC that has been sitting but not quite as long as Greg's. Gary's trailering the car here next week. I'll be doing quite a bit to get it ready for his motor install.
BTW since I am retired I now do speedster work for others...Send me a dialog if interested.
I sure wish we could install an internet connected camera in your Amish shed --- you'd have to watch what you scratched though. I'd like one with camera as you have to work all night to get long list of stuff done that you accomplish. My progress is more like find 3 missing bolts --- now look for nuts --- and day is done.
Retired, I've cut back on shop hours simple rule is no more than a half day every other day, I spend about 15 to 20 hrs a week in the shop.
Even the minimum of 15 hours ( sometimes more/less) = 60 hours a month x 12 = 720 hours a year. One can get a lot done with having parts ordered and on hand (Just In Time) and a prioritized To Do List. What goes on in my shop, stays in my shop..... :~)
What goes on in my shop, stays in my shop..... :~)
Yes, that is the right answer. We see what rolls out the door, and that is all we need to know.
THE biggest thing I read up above is:
"One can get a lot done with having parts ordered and on hand (Just In Time) and a prioritized To Do List."
That is SO BIG. Having a plan and sticking to it because you're not screwing around looking for stuff (in that huge pile of accumulated stuff we all seem to have stashed away in/near our shops) saves TONS of time. Also, knowing what tasks have to happen in what order (this can't start until that is already finished) makes things flow much more smoothly.
Industrial Engineering 101, that. And also having a well organized shop with a collection of the right tools for the various jobs needed. Al's shop is far from spacious but he has it very well organized for the task of building Speedsters and it works well for him. THAT's key.
I bet Al also has developed his To-Do and parts needed lists over time such that they're transferable from one job to the next - The task order seldom changes (although you may be able to skip here and there depending on what comes in the door as a "project") and the complete parts list seldom changes but gets edited from project to project (cross stuff off). Once you get into the routine of scope out the project, check off what you need and get it ordered, get the project disassembled for rework and then go down your itemized rebuild list, things should progress pretty quickly.
What REALLY makes it fast for Alan is the experience of doing a lot of them and having time-saving templates for placement of stuff around the body. You can measure and brood over the placement of the corner posts for hours all you want, but slap a known-good-placement template on there and drill your holes in 15 minutes is much quicker!!
Badger! Badger! Badger!
What a GREAT idea!
Alan:
What goes on in your shop ends up appearing on the site for sale. Good for you.
Had Gary sneak a web cam into the Amish Magical garage!
http://architizer.com/blog/santa-claus-workshop/
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DAMIT ! Youz guys are letting production secrets out
Actually I did not see all the helpers. I brought my car to the secret location in the dark, had to be worn to secrecy, learned the secret handshake and then proceeded to the Dr's lab. There are some photo's but some shots had to be edited out due to a possible security breach. All I can say on record that the lab is very orderly and Connie stopped in for the initial evaluation. I do have some shots of the progress, but they have not been approved for the public yet. I can say that if someone needs a professional make over, then see the Dr for professional results.
Gary
If any of you visit the good doctor's shop, whatever you do, DO NOT go out the back side of his neighborhood to "take a short cut" to get back onto I-81 south at the next exit down. Go back by way of route 30, only. I know that shooting out the back of the neighborhood looks like a good way to go, but, trust me, the people out there look like they were cast-offs from "Deliverance". Three guys, in one pickup truck, and one of them was trying to get pictures of my car on a trailer while he was almost falling out of the window of the car's door, and they all ended up going off the road while we just kept on going, just to get the hell away from them. I think that, between the three of them, they had a total of, like, 12 teeth, too. I thought all those guys lived farther South!
Gordon Nichols posted:..Three guys, in one pickup truck, and one of them was trying to get pictures of my car on a trailer while he was almost falling out of the window of the car's door, and they all ended up going off the road while we just kept on going, just to get the hell away from them. I think that, between the three of them, they had a total of, like, 12 teeth...
Gordon, those WERE the local cops.
To protect and to serve.
Inquiring minds want to know what's happening at Merklin Motorcraft....
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Alan
That guy should be on the outside looking in. Yes?
I think he works there, Bob.
Well, I'd fire any employee that wears a mask...
Alan Merklin posted:
This must be the dude who does the doctor's under dash wiring. You need hands that small to reach most of it.
I was wondering how the doc finished projects so quick, working only half a day in the shop. He didn't tell us about the night shift.
Wolfgang: I will be done wrenching Gary's Speedster build by 1/1/16. After a Sanibel vacation, I'll be doing a complete CMC flared custom build from February 1st to May 1st to be completed for Carlisle....
I assume that you will be heading to Carlisle. DO tow your speedster project and hang a left for 6 miles off I - 81 exit 16 dropping the speedy at shop, continue to Carlisle where we can go over details...I'll get he Speedster done for you over the Summer of '16. .........." Such A deal ! "
Oh, please please please Mr Wolfie, swallow your pride, and let's get this done.
Alan Merklin posted:Wolfgang: I will be done wrenching Gary's Speedster build by 1/1/16. After a Sanibel vacation, I'll be doing a complete CMC flared custom build from February 1st to May 1st to be completed for Carlisle....
I assume that you will be heading to Carlisle. DO tow your speedster project and hang a left for 6 miles off I - 81 exit 16 dropping the speedy at shop, continue to Carlisle where we can go over details...I'll get he Speedster done for you over the Summer of '16. .........." Such A deal ! "
After over 6 years of ownership and a feeble attempt to finish it, Alan will have my speedster done and I will actually have a real "live" speedster on the road. I only have to put my engine in after we agreed I would take it out to makes things easier for both of us. Communication has been great although I may "communicate" too much with the good Dr about my speedster. I must say he does do GREAT work and sends me pics of my speedsters progress, and I have heard Connie is even helping to get me on the road as well. Thanks Connie!
I know how Wolfgang is feeling as I have been in his shoes and especially with the distance , makes it even more difficult. I have to say, the Dr is making a great offer and I hope Wolfgang can get his speedster on the road any way he can. Hopefully I can make it to Carlise and show it off to some of you "knuckleheads" and join the fun. "Such a deal".....
Gary ~ owner of another "40' hour CMC speedster
I'd go for it too Greg. Once it's on the road, you can always tinker it to death on your own time. Maybe add self-stick flowers to the hood or a Hawaiian bobble doll on the dash. It will be more fun to enjoy driving it for a bit. Once you experience that, you can take it apart and resto-mod the suspension or add a six speed Corvette automatic tranny to it. I'd let the Doc operate if I were you.
just saying'.
craig
Off thread, sorry but what are the dates for Carlisle in 2016?
| May 20-22, 2016 Adult Admission: Daily Fri.- Sat. $10 / Sun $7 / Event Pass $15 Gate Times: Thu.-Sat. 7am-6pm , Sun. 7am-3pm |
- See more at: http://www.carlisleevents.com/...sthash.Vf3gQnEl.dpuf
I have posted a couple of these photos on Facebook, so I thought I would post some here of Dr Clocks progress of my CMC phat-boy. This is after bringing my speedster to the Dr he started surgery in his operating room and this is a my CMC's under"ware" - R rating.
Gary
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This is how the Dr does wiring, better than factory, I am shocked!
Gary
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This is the body reconnecting with the frame, I think they are bonding. The next step will be a little cut and buff to make the ole girl shine.
Gary
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The good Dr is expecting a speedy recovery. I may be in recovery when I see what a great looking car he did CPR to.
Thanks again Alan! 
Gary
Cut 'n buff done ...looks good. Another 20 hours to go... the carpet, seats top and a few misc. and you can drag it back north for your motor install~
After my ownership of over 6 years, the Dr has had my CMC speedster about 1 month, now that's how it supposed to be done. "Now you know the rest of the story....."
Gary
Alan
what products do you use to cut and polish the gel coat?